- 일시 : 2007년 4월 17일 화요일

- 장소 : 아주대학교 병원 지하1층 아주홀

- 연사 : 김성진 박사

- 소속 : Laboratory of Cell Regulation and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer
            Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-5055, USA

- Title : TGF-β - journey of discovery and promise

- Abstract :

     In the nearly 25 years since the discovery and initial characterization of TGF-b, it has emerged as the paradigmatic growth factor, defining the cell- and context-specific actions now attributed to many growth factors. TGF-b1, first characterized in 1983, was the first of what is now known to be a large family of over 40 structurally related growth factors including the activins and bone morphogenetic proteins. All of the members of the TGF-b superfamily signal through pairs of type I and II transmembrane receptor serine-threonine kinases and share downstream signaling mediators called Smad proteins. Important roles for TGF-b have been defined in wound healing and in the pathogenesis of diseases ranging from autoimmune disease, to fibrosis, to cancer. Its actions encompass cellular and molecular mechanisms ranging from inhibition of growth of cells of epithelial and lymphoid origin, to stimulation of production of extracellular matrix by mesenchymal cells, to chemotaxis, to regulation of apoptosis and of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. The context-specific actions of TGF-b are particularly evident in carcinogenesis where the protein plays both a tumor suppressor role in the early stages of disease and a pro-metastatic role in later stages. New insights into the role of this protein in disease processes are now leading to development of novel therapeutic strategies based on interference with the ligand, the receptor, or the downstream Smad signaling pathway, providing great promise for clinical treatment of disease.

   The talk entitled "TGF-β - journey of discovery and promise" was conducted by professor Choi, who is the president of the Korean Society for EMT Research.

   The presenter was Seong-Jin Kim from National Cancer Institute, USA.
   He addressed about from the initial characterization of TGF-β to the up-to-minute issues,

   He highlighted the important role for TGF-β in in wound healing and in the pathogenesis of diseases ranging from autoimmune disease, to fibrosis, to cancer.

   He metioned that the gelatinolytic activity is localized to mesenchymal cells surrounding tumor cell islets.

   The seminar was attended by many faculty members and students of medical school and college of natural science in Ajou University.

   This talk will be broadcasted by SBS which is one of the major broadcasting station in Korea.

   He insisted the principle for science to the young scientists as..

   "Think Big! Aim High!"